Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to contacts with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, although he has not scheduled a telephone conversation with him, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.

"For now, there are no agreed talks with Scholz." Putin was and remains open to contacts", said Peskov.

Berlin said last week it would send 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv and allow allied European countries to send German-made tanks to Ukraine.

In an interview with the German daily Tagespiegel, published today, Scholz says that "he also wants to talk to Putin because it is necessary."

"It is Putin's responsibility to withdraw troops from Ukraine to end this horrible, senseless war that has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives," Scholz said.

Putin and Scholz last spoke by phone in early December. The Russian leader then said the German and Western line on Ukraine was "destructive" and called on Berlin to reconsider its approach.